Top News Advisory for Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013

Top News Advisory for Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013

Article excerpt

Top News Advisory

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Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2013

5:20 p.m.

Here are the top news stories from The Canadian Press. All times are Eastern unless otherwise stated. Coverage plans are included when available. Entries are subject to change as news develops. Contact the National Desk at 416-507-2150.

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TOP NEWS AT THIS HOUR

Think of 'brave men and women in uniform,' says Harper in Christmas message

Harper-Xmas-Message

OTTAWA _ Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued a brief message to mark the Christmas season, calling it a time for "joyful reunions with family and friends." Harper also asked that we also "give a moment to our brave men and women in uniform." AUDIO

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Pope on Christmas hopes for better world, peace for Syria, Africa

REL-Christmas

VATICAN CITY _ Pope Francis on Christmas Day is wishing for a better world, with peace for the land of Jesus' birth, for Syria and Africa, as well as for the dignity of migrants and refugees fleeing misery and conflict. PHOTOS, AUDIO

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Officials warn residents of CO poisoning risk in the wake of ice storm

WEA-Eastern-Canada-Storm

TORONTO _ Two children and two adults in east-end Toronto have reportedly been taken to hospital to be treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. Reports said coal was being burned to keep the apartment warm. This latest incident comes as thousands of people from Ontario to the Maritimes continue to await the return of electricity that was knocked out by an ice storm last weekend.<

BAGHDAD _ Militants in Iraq targeted Christians in two separate bomb attacks in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing at least 37 people, officials said. In one attack, a car bomb went off near a church during Christmas Mass in the capital's southern Dora neighbourhood, killing at least 26 people and wounding 38, a police officer said. PHOTOS

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia _ Greenpeace says investigators have dropped charges against 16 activists who were detained in Russia's Arctic in September. Greenpeace listed the 16 on its Twitter account, but the names of Canadians Alexandre Paul of Montreal and Paul Ruzycki of Port Colborne, Ont., were not yet included.

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Turkey's economy, interior ministers resign in corruption scandal

EU-Turkey-Corruption-Probe

ANKARA, Turkey _ Two Cabinet ministers whose sons have been arrested in Turkey's corruption and bribery scandal have resigned. Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan and Interior Minister Muammer Guler both stepped down on Wednesday. Their sons are among 24 people who have been arrested in Turkey on bribery charges in a police corruption probe.

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Federal court won't halt gay marriages in Utah

US-Gay-Marriage-Utah

SALT LAKE CITY _ A federal appeals court has refused to stop gay marriage in Utah, making it more likely that same-sex weddings in the home of the Mormon church are here to stay for the immediate future. …